The petition of residents of Bracknell and supporters of the Acoustic Couch,
Declares that the Acoustic Couch is a community-run grassroots music venue that contributes richly to the culture and economy of Bracknell; further declares that the current venue which houses the Acoustic Couch is under a carpark that is no longer structurally sound, and will therefore be closed from the end of 2025; notes that Bracknell Forest Council has been working with the Acoustic Couch to identify possible alternative venues, but an affordable and accessible location has yet to be identified; and further declares that grassroots music venues across the country have faced substantial difficulties in recent years, and recognises the need to protect their invaluable contribution to our shared music heritage
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider what support can be made available to secure the future of the Acoustic Couch in Bracknell.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Peter Swallow, Official Report, 29 April 2025; Vol. 766, c. 300.]
[P003065]
Observations from the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism (Chris Bryant):
Thank you for raising this important issue regarding the future of Acoustic Couch in Bracknell. Grassroots music venues like Acoustic Couch play a vital role in nurturing local talent, supporting communities, contributing to the cultural and economic life of towns across the UK and giving people a great night out.
We fully recognise the challenges that grassroots venues of this kind are currently facing. These issues are real and pressing, and we are actively working with the music sector to strengthen the resilience and long-term sustainability of the UK’s grassroots music infrastructure.
The Government’s industrial strategy is prioritising the creative industries, and we published our creative industries sector plan on Monday 23 June 2025. This includes a new £30 million music growth package, which will be delivered in partnership with Arts Council England and industry. This investment will support the entire music ecosystem—from grassroots venues, festivals, and rehearsal and recording studios, to high-potential artists, songwriters, independent labels, managers, and promoters.
For grassroots venues, the package will provide vital investment to improve facilities, support programming and live performance, and help create more opportunities for emerging artists to develop and perform across the UK. It will also fund industry-led initiatives to improve access to mentoring, touring, and export opportunities, ensuring that more UK artists can build sustainable careers, both at home and internationally.
We are also encouraging widespread adoption of a new industry-led ticket levy on large-scale arena and stadium events. Once fully implemented, this initiative, administered by the LIVE Trust, is expected to generate up to £20 million annually for investment into the grassroots sector, benefiting venues, artists, promoters and festivals across the UK. This will help address the financial pressures facing smaller venues and enable more artists to tour nationally.
Alongside this, we continue to work closely with key stakeholders, including the Music Venue Trust, UK Music, and local authorities, to identify emerging challenges and ensure support reaches those who need it most.